Happy Box Blog

Written By: Hannah Redmond, Co-Founder @ Happy Box

It's a weird time: we're living through a global Coronavirus pandemic that comes with mandatory social distancing and self-isolation. Crazytown.

As a company built on preserving long distance connections with friends, we thought we'd share some of our team's fave tips for staying in touch with friends during social-distancing to help us all survive what could be a pretty lonely time. 

1. Schedule a virtual hangout (or better yet, a virtual happy hour) 
Zoom and Google Hangouts aren't only for meetings. Schedule a hangout or happy hour with friends using one of these group video call services, make yourself a drink with what you have on hand (use this cocktail builder for help), and curl up on the couch and catch up with friends, without ever having to put on pants. Or a bra. #FREEDOM. Play never-have-I-ever, truth or dare, do it up! Fun fact: Japanese women coined a new term for drinking in self isolation.

2. Take an online workout class with a friend
So many workout studios and trainers are offering free online workout classes and free extended trials for workouts you can do right at home. So, (virtually), grab a friend and dedicate some time to take the workout class during the day together. Check out obé or Blogilates, and don't forget to check out what local boutique studies near you are doing - many are live streaming home workout classes for free on social media. Working out not your thing? Join a virtual dance party.

3. Party like it's 1998: challenge a friend to an online game.
So, looks like Slingo won't be around for much longer (damnit, this is the worst timing!), but there are plenty of apps, online games, and video games you can play with friends. Let your inner child come out and have some fun! Some ideas: Chess, Battleship, Speed Sudoku, Pictionary and more. Go ahead, do a quick Google search for your favorite multiplayer games and see what's online.

4. Call friends & family you don't see often.
Yes, with the phone - we've gotten too used to texting. With no commute time, you'll have plenty of time to call grandma, or FaceTime your roommate from college and check in. Use this time to reconnect. Ask how your friend's kid is doing, ask your cousin how school is going. Hell, write someone a good old fashioned letter. You'll be happy you did, and they'll be happy to have heard from you.

5. Binge watch Netflix together - on different couches.
Netflix Party is a new way to watch Netflix with your friends online - it synchronizes video playback and even has a group chat feature. So, make it a movie night with your gals, or turn Love Is Blind into a drinking game together...

Remember: we will get through this. Stay safe and stay connected, everyone. <3

XO,

Happy Box Team

Click here to build a cute custom care package shipped to your friends' doorstep.

Written By: Caitlyn Conville / @cat_lyn99 

It’s hard enough shopping for Valentine’s Day gifts for boyfriends, but if you two are long distance, it’s even more difficult. You want to give him something that not only reassures him of your love, but is worth the shipping costs. See below for some creative gifts for your long distance guy this Valentine's Day:

1. Ship him a Care package, like our Beer or Bourbon Happy Boxes
Raise your boyfriend’s spirits this Valentine’s Day by sending a boozy-themed care package from Happy Box. The curated “Beer Box” comes with gourmet craft beer cheese pretzels and a barrel aged brown ale candle for your brew-loving dude. The “Bourbon Box” will meet all your sweetheart’s neat needs with a bourbon cask aged dark chocolate bar and his very own flask.

You can also build your own long distance Valentine’s Day gift box and fill it with goodies picked specifically for your favorite fella. 

2. Make a “52 Things I Love About You” Book
The way to ace Valentine’s Day gifts for your boyfriend is to give straight from the heart. Playing cards are widely available at many price points, and are sturdy enough to arrive at their destination intact. On each of the 52 cards, write something about your boyfriend that you love. It can be anything from the color of his eyes to the way he only ever drives with both hands on the wheel. Be creative, but heartfelt! It’s an easy, adorable long distance Valentine’s Day gift to remind him that he is your king, even if he acts like a joker sometimes.

3. Buy Long Distance Touch Lamps
Light up your boyfriend’s life with a unique in-sync lamp this Valentine’s Day. You and your boyfriend each set up your own lamp via wifi, then when one of you touches the lamp to turn it on, its paired mate will emit the same colored glow. These lamps are perfect long distance Valentine's Day gifts because they function no matter how far apart you two are. With a simple touch of your hand, you can let him know that you’re thinking of him and he can do the same for you.

4. Surprise Him with An In-Person Visit
Don’t just surprise him with presents, surprise him with your presence! The best Valentine’s Day gift for your boyfriend is your company. Hit the road or take to the skies, since it’s already been way too long since you’ve given each other a hug.

Written By Erin Celletti 

Galentine’s Day is all about the gals — that’s a given. But what is it, really? And how did it come to be? 

Well, it’s actually the title of the 16th episode of the second season of Parks and Rec. Yep - it’s from one of our fave TV shows!

In this iconic episode, Leslie hosts her annual "Galentine's Day" party for her girl friends on February 13th — aka the day before Valentine’s Day. They exchange stories of crushes and unrequited love which then (of course) manifests into antics of tracking down old flames, senior dances, jealousy and even heartbreak. It’s a doozy.

But Galentine's Day has taken on a whole new meaning in society as girl gangs across the country now partake in fun festivities prior to actual Valentine’s Day — whether they’re single, taken, or ready to mingle. It has nothing to do with romance, and everything to do with celebrating femme friendship. 

Here are some fun ways to celebrate. 

Girls Night In
Sometimes swanky reservations or a big girls night out is appealing but more often than not, there’s nothing better than some quality time at home with your girls. So instead of getting dolled up and spending big dough for a night on the town, get together on the couch. Cook or bake, cheers to your friendship, scrapbook, make vision boards — whatever your heart's desire. All that matters is that you’re together making memories. 

Fun Photoshoots
If it’s not on Instagram, did it really happen? Chances are you have plenty of photos with your best friends — but kick it up a notch and have a fun, professional photoshoot together instead. Services like Shoott.com make it easier and more affordable than ever to beautifully capture memories. 

Take a Class
Friends that learn together, stay together. For a more experiential Galentine’s Day celebration, why not learn to cook, paint or build a craft together?  Bonus points if it’s BYOB, obviously.  Or, why not take a new studio workout class together — because nothing says forever friendship like sweating it out, right? 

Spoil Each Other
The season of gift giving may have just ended, but Galentine’s day certainly calls for special treatment. Whether you’re long distance friends or live down the block from one another— what’s better than an unexpected (and adorable!) package showing up on  your friend’s doorstep that’s choc full of items they’re sure to love? Let Happy Box help you create a custom care package for Galentine’s Day, complete with a handwritten, personalized note shipped right to your friend's door.

Oh, and remember those 90’s classroom Valentine’s with your favorite stars and cartoons? We have those, too, so you can relive your childhood classroom parties with your besties this Valentine’s Day.

Regardless of how you decide to spend your Galentine’s Day, we wish you a day filled with laughter, love, and all the Happy—ness.

 By Erin Celletti

Have you ever spent hours browsing in a store hoping that the perfect gift for your friend will just come jumping out in front of you? Finding that perfect gift can be a long and confusing process, but it doesn’t have to be!

Here are a few tips to keep in mind when selecting the best gifts before you break out that credit card:

1. Do Your Homework
Before picking anything out, now is the time to put Harriet the Spy out of business and stealthily find out all those little things you don’t already know about your bestie.

For example, no one in their right mind could turn down chocolate, so this tasty treat is always a good choice, but for a more custom gift, incorporate her own personal chocolate preferences! Does she like milk or dark better? Is she nuts about nuts? How does she feel about nougat? When you hand her a custom gift box of chocolate perfectly tailored to her liking, she’ll be thrilled (and surprised) at just how well you know her!

2. Think of ALL of her Various Interests! 
There’s always one girl in every friend group that’s obsessed with her dog, so she’s probably already received every pooch-related gift under the sun. But maybe this pup-preoccupied pal also likes to pamper herself every now and then, so a quality bath bomb or a delicious-scented face mask would really stand out among all the fur and whiskers as a unique gift!

3. Remember: She Deserves to be Spoiled
Your best friend deserves only the finest things in life, so give her the lavish lifestyle you know she wouldn’t buy herself but would totally appreciate anyway. The best gifts are things she would love Present her with gourmet, luxe, jumbo-sized, or handcrafted prezzies that will make her feel like the princess you know she is.

4. It’s the Thought That Counts
No gift is too small when the amount of thought and love behind it is so big. A sleep mask is a simple yet sweet way to tell your friend that you care about her well-being and how much sleep she’s getting. A pen shows her that you believe in her dreams of stardom when you pair it with a handwritten note that says she should really start practicing her autograph. Make sure you choose her favorite colors and patterns and you’ve got yourself a tiny but mighty, unique, and personalized gift.

Whether your friend loves chocolate, dogs, spa days, or anything in between, Happy Box has got you covered. You can choose a themed gift box filled with curated goodies or you can build your own box for an even more personalized gift. Either way, Happy Box will ensure that your friend will be thoroughly pleased with how much you care about her.

 By @cat_lyn99 

1. Make a photo album of your best and most memorable photos
   Guys – no one prints photos and makes albums anymore, which makes them super special. Add in handwritten notes about your favorite parts about those moments and photos to make this gift extra personal and special. Go grab a cute printed photos as CVS and done Google Photo books, both are so simple and easy and fun to make!

2. Get them a Cameo of their fave celebrity
   This is such a great birthday gift for the friend who doesn’t want more “stuff.” It is SO simple and so, so much fun. I did this for my sister’s engagement, and she freaked out! Cameo is a service where you can have a celebrity shout out to your friend, for a fee of course. Some celebs cost more than other but it is well worth it!
   
   
3. Make a gift bag full of themed items based on a hobby, interest, or where they are in their life, along with a sweet note.
   I have been known among my friends for making “kits” for gifts: I would make “30^th Birthday Survival” kits, “New Job” kits, “Med School Survival” kits, and even “Breakup Survival” kits – these were the OG Happy Boxes and are what inspired me to start the company! They are super simple to make, and if your friend has an obscure passion or hobby, even better! Find 3-5 things that will help them do their fave hobby or their new life moment better, throw them in a cute gift bag with some tissue paper and a thoughtful note and POOF: a unique, super personal gift that they will LOVE!
   
   
4. No time for #3? Not creative? Your BFF live far away? Welp, ladies, THAT’S why we created Happy Box: So you can build a custom care package full of unique items and ship it right to her door.
   It’s super simple: pick a box design (my favorite is our pastel gradient called “sunset”), fill her up with various gifts (I suggest adding the “Brunch” candle and some Raaka chocolate – these are best sellers!), pick a card, type in your note, and our team hand-packs and ships the box out to your friend’s doorstep or office. Start building a custom care package now, or take a look at our curated Happy Birthday Box full of some best- selling birthday gifts and goodies.

In the age of Pinterest, creating custom bridesmaid gifts and bridesmaid proposals  can be intimidating! You want to surprise and delight your bridal party with something custom, unique, personal, and that looks like it was DIY'ed by a Joanna Gaines-Martha Stewart Hybrid, #amiright?!

It's not impossible - and we're here to show some of our FAVE and best-selling gift items customers have put in their Bridesmaid Proposal and Bridal Party gifts using our box builder. 

1. Spa Items from Old Whaling Co.
We love the delicious scents of these quality bath and spa products from this female-owned company, and we know your girls' will too. Check out our box builder for various products and scents we carry, but pro-tip: French Lavender is to die for.

2. Unique & Ethically-Sourced Chocolate Bars
Our friends at Raaka chocolate are doing it right: they make their chocolate from scratch; with traceable, high quality, single origin cacao that is transparently sourced. And it. is. delicious.

3. Some GIRL POWER!
We are all about some women empowerment and love these fun best-sellers - an iron-on patch that says "girl gang" and a two-piece heart-shaped best friends necklace that says "best bitches." Love love love.
  

4.  Sheet Face Masks
These are some of our best-selling gift items, everyone loves a good face mask! Not to mention we keep introducing more fun seasonal favorites (hello, pumpkin!). Check out all of our scents on our box builder.

4.  Our Best-Selling "Brunch" Candle
This candle, made by the female-owned Wax Cabin Co. smells AH-MA-ZING, we wish this was a scratch-and-sniff. It has notes of rose, chardonnay, blood orange, and grapefruit.

If you need help creating the perfect custom bridesmaid proposal gift, email our gifts pros today and we'll send you some suggestions! hello@happyboxstore.com

A gift for the pumpkin and fall obsessed! Every year we create a pumpkin themed gift box and every year we buy more inventory because it always sells out! This year, we created a Seasonal Pumpkin Gift Box that has some great fall elements in it as well. It's filled with:

• Pumpkin Sheet Face Mask
• Pumpkin Horchata Candle
• Moscow Mule Carry On Cocktail Kit 
• Gourmet Coffee Caramels

Buy it here today, or better yet, build your own custom care package and fill with even more goodies.

We're in love...and even MORE pumpkin items are coming up on the box builder soon!